5 Tips for a Happy and Healthy Retirement

Retirement means a lot more than just not going to a full-time job anymore. This is the next stage of your life! If you’re heading into retirement, you’re probably very excited to start a brand new chapter of your own personal journey. It can also be a bit nerve-wracking, though. What in the world will you spend your time doing? Will you be happy and fulfilled or bored and lonely? Making the best lifestyle choices as you age will enable you to enjoy all the benefits that come with retirement. These include:

#1 Ease your workload. Many people prefer not to go straight from a full workload to never working again. It’s quite a shock to your mental wellbeing! If possible, try to retire in stages. If you slowly ease off your responsibilities over a few months or even a year, it will help you get accustomed to the idea of retiring. It will also help your employer train and replace you as they cut down your working hours. It’s worth noting that eventually you do need to stop for good and work zero hours. Enjoying good health may not be possible if you continue to overwork yourself late into the years you should be focused on relaxation and health.

#2 Sleep well. Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life, including in your Golden Years. Sure, at the end of a long day we all want to sleep. It’s more than that though; our body needs to sleep. Sleep allows your body to rest, repair, and refresh. You need a full eight hours of sleep that involves going through your entire sleep cycle multiple times. Those who don’t sleep well enough and long enough are at a much higher chance to get brain diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Your body repairs itself while you sleep, soothing sore muscles and achy joints. This rejuvenating sleep is made possible by spending the night on a premium mattress made by PranaSleep.

#3 Push yourself out of your comfort zone. You have time on your hands you never had when you were working 40 hours a week and raising kids. Now is the time to go places you’ve never been and enjoy experiences you’ve always wanted to have. If you love adventure, consider joining a senior travel group to explore the world beyond your city. Join a book club, church class, pickleball league, or another type of group. Volunteer at an animal shelter. Buy a boat and go sailing. In fact, do it all!

#4 Eat a healthy diet. You want to nourish and fuel your body. This means eating a balanced diet containing protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, and other healthy nutrients. Consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole, and olive oil is a good investment in your health. Many retirees eat out at restaurants- a lot! Researchers say eating at restaurants is generally bad for our overall health. They note that half of full-service restaurant meals and 70% of fast-food meals are of poor dietary quality. That doesn’t mean you have to make every meal at home from scratch, thankfully. Experts tell us that you can avoid the health risks of unhealthy restaurant meals by checking the menu beforehand for calories and other nutritional guidelines. Also, save a portion of your meal for lunch the next day so you don’t overeat.

#5 Get moving. Engaging in physical activities extends your lifespan and lowers your risks of experiencing debilitating ailments such as Obesity, Sleep Apnea, heart problems, and Dementia. Aerobic activities including walking, yoga, tai chi, dancing, and swimming, not only energize you but also sharpen your mind. Exercise can be fun! If you choose a type of exercise that you really enjoy, you’ll actually look forward to it instead of dread it. This is a great way to meet other retirees, too. Attend yoga sessions at the same time every week or walk a path at the same time each morning. You’ll have workout buddies before you know it!

In order to age gracefully and healthy, your retirement years should have a focus on keeping you strong, fit, and occupied. You want to be both healthy and happy. A big part of this is taking care of your body, liking eating well, getting daily exercise, and sleeping eight hours a night on a high-quality mattress. You want to take care of your mental health too! Seniors who live active lifestyles, meeting new people, learning new skills, and experiencing new things, are much happier and healthier than those who stay idle.